Actor Olaiya Igwe has revealed that his greatest regret in life is disappointing gospel singer Tope Alabi.
Speaking in an interview with Baba Ibe TV, Olaiya recalled an incident that happened after the release of his 1999 hit movie Ololade: Mr Money.
He said he had just purchased a new Mercedes-Benz V-Boot, which was stolen in Ibadan but recovered the next day after news of the theft spread.
Upon his return home, Olaiya said Tope Alabi and her husband approached him, requesting to use the car for their wedding. Initially, he agreed, but fear of losing the vehicle again made him change his mind.
The actor said he stopped picking up Alabi’s calls a day before the wedding and never gave them the car—a decision that still haunts him today.
“What hurt me most and still hurts me is what I did to my younger sister, singer Tope Alabi. She informed me about her wedding, and I had just bought a car, a ‘V Boot,’ after Ololade Mr Money became a hit,” he said.
“And before I collected the plate number, I had already inscribed Ololade Mr Money 1 on the car. So, I went to Ibadan in Oyo State to show one of my films, and my car was stolen by robbers.
“But it was later recovered the following day after the news circulated on radio stations and other platforms. When I returned from Ibadan, Tope Alabi came to my house in Abeokuta and said, ‘Big brother, please, we want to use your car for our wedding,’ and I said no problem.
“But after she left, I had a second thought—what if armed robbers snatched the car from them? I stopped picking up her calls a day before the wedding. I didn’t give her the car. I disappointed Tope Alabi.
“But she now has countless luxury cars, some of which I cannot afford. So, up till today, I’m still in pain that I offended Tope Alabi. I once sought her forgiveness during one of our professional meetings in Ogun State. My greatest regret is disappointing Tope Alabi.”
Olaiya Igwe, known for his role in Yoruba cinema, has been a prominent figure in the industry for decades.
He has featured in several hit movies and remains a respected voice in Nollywood.
